BBC Breakfast pauses for breaking news as host makes announcement on Pope's funeral

BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent brought the show to a sudden halt as she announced breaking news on the late Pope Francis' funeral.

During Tuesday's (April 22) episode of the BBC hit show, the TV presenter, 53, and co-host Roger Johnson made a return to our screens as they presented the day's top stories.

However half way through the show, Sally interrupted the broadcast to announce that the Vatican have since confirmed when the late Pope's funeral will take place.

Speaking to viewers at home, Sally went on to say: "We're just going to bring you some breaking news we've had just a moment ago, confirmation that the funeral of Pope Francis will take place this Saturday."

She added: "This is confirmation that we've had from the Vatican in a statement just a few moments ago that Pope Francis' funeral will be on Saturday, April 26 at 10am, so 9am our time at St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. That has just been confirmed a moment ago."

A number of world leaders have confirmed that they will attend the funeral. Argentinian President Javier Milei said he would be at the service.

US President Donald Trump says he will travel to Vatican City alongside First Lady Melania Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron has also confirmed that he will be there and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to make an appearance.

Dozens of world leaders and religious figures are likely to attend the funeral, alongside hundreds of worshippers. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday aged 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

At the time, the Vatican said he died following a stroke, less than 24 hours after appearing in a wheelchair at St Peter's Square to lead an Easter address in front of thousands of worshipers.

The Pope's death follows a period of ill-health that saw him spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.

In a statement published by the Vatican early on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said the pope had "returned to the home of the Father".

The statement continued: "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised."

Services have been held around the world as some 1.4bn Catholics begin to mark the Pope's death. Meanwhile, mourners have started to arrive at the Vatican.

BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer